Improvement in explosive shells for ordnance



UNITED' STATES PATRNT. OFFICE.

HORACE REsLRY, on CUMBRRLAND, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT -IN ExPLoslvE sHELLs FOR ORDNANCE.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,520, dated January 27, 1863.

to the accompanying drawings, and to the let ters and marksthereon. I Commonly, in shells where the-percussioncap or like means is used to ignite the explosive material within the shell it is placed at the forward end of the shell, and so arranged as to be operated when the shell strikes against the object to which it is directed. An important objection to this position of the cap is that the explosion of the shell will occur before the shell fully enters the object, andthus much -of its value as a destructive agent is lost. In order to make available the full power of the shell, it has been proposed to place the means for producv ing the ignition of theexplosive material in recesses in the sides or periphery of lthe shell, so that the explosion will not take place until the greater part of the shell is within the object. i

My invention relates to this. classof shells; audit consists in so arranging the discharging mechanism with an adjustable p'late as to prevent accidental discharge, and to provide. for the explosion when desired. These means, as shown by the drawings forming part of this specification, are placed near the base of the shell and Vbetween the expanding bands there# of; but, as is evident, they may be placed at such other pointi of the periphery as may be deemed preferable, the better to adapt them to the particular shell to which they may be applied. Any such number of these means may be used on any one shell that may be reV garded as requisite.

Figure l of the drawings hereof represents a shell in view by elevation, having my improvement attached thereto, with the guardi plate so arranged that the hammer will notV operate. Fig. 2 is a like view with the guardplate removed. Fig. 3 is a view of a sectionof a shell\with the means attached, the guard-plate being so arranged as to. allow the hammer to be operated. Fig. 4 is a view the guard-plate.

piece, and thus being'a pivot for the turning Both'of these pieces may be made so as to be but one piece, in which case a pin will be attached to the upper part of c 0f the piece c.

and lit into a hole in the recess above it, so that it may be turned, and the lower part, b,

will then be round Ainstead of square, as here shown.V 'A spring, of metalor india-rubber,

f, is attached to the part c, the tendency of which is to force this part out from the periph- `of the shell, and thus put it in the proper position to be operated when it comes in contact with an opposing object. As shown by the drawings, V this spring is made of indiarubber, the outer endV of it being clamped by v If made of metal, the outer end can be affixed in the recess of the shell.

rllhe part b of the hammer has a shoulder, A .h, against which the edge of the guard-plate bears when this plate is so held as not to allowthe'hammerto hit the cap. A screw `or pin, i, holds the guard:plate o in this p'os'i tion to check the operation of the hammer,` and recesses j in the edge of the guard-plate permit the sliding of it up or down to adapt it to the two positions of allowing the hammer to be operated or to prevent its Abeing oper? ated. When the shell is not to be used, the upper part of the `hammer will be out, as it will'be at all times except when in the gun or mortar, and the guard-plate o will be held up by the screw t', as is shown by Fig. l. When the shell isfto be used, the screw i will be removed and the guard-plate o .allowed to play, as is shown by Fig.

In preparing the shell to be placed in the gun 0r mortar, the 'screwz is taken out and that part c of the hammer pressed into the recess,

the shell then being forced into the gun. On

coming out of the gun in discharge this part c of the hammer is thrown out by its spring and ready to ybe acted upon, asis shown by Fig.4.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to l secure by Letters Patent,'is-

The arrangement of the means or devices herein set forth for protecting' the operating mechanism and providingr for the discharge when desired.

This specification signed this 9th day of September, 1862. y

` 1 H. RESLEY.

Witnesses:

THos. T. EVRETT, D. RQWLAND. 

